Holy Land of Israel, a unique experience to enjoy Christmas

The Christmas festivities are lived in a special way in Israel. In Jerusalem, Nazareth and Haifa, many streets are decorated with Christmas decorations, trees and illuminations, with numerous religious celebrations, cultural and family activities, as well as liturgical celebrations in churches of different religions. Specifically, the calendar and activities prepared for this Christmas 2022-23, in these locations are:

Jerusalem
Nearly 120,000 faithful are expected to arrive in Israel for Christmas. From 2:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve (December 24) to 2:00 a.m. on Christmas Day, the Israel Ministry of Tourism will offer free round-trip transportation to assist pilgrims traveling between Jerusalem and Bethlehem on the Palestinian Authority. 
From December 15 to 25, a Christmas market will be held in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, in the New Gate area. The area will be illuminated and decorated, with food and gift stalls, concerts, guided tours, live performances and other surprises. Three concerts will be held in the Christian Quarter: in the church of the Latin Patriarchate, in the church of San Salvador de la Puerta Nueva and in the concert hall of the Custodia Terra Santa. The concerts will take place on 12/15; 12/22; 12/25, with prior registration and payment of 30 shekels. 

Likewise, an exhibition of large snow globes will be installed in the alleys of the Christian Quarter that lead to the House of Santa Claus. This unique Jerusalem institution, visited by thousands of tourists and locals, is a 700-year-old home of the only official and accredited Santa Claus in the Holy Land, Issa Kassissieh. Affectionately known as the Santa Claus of Jerusalem, Kassissieh, a professional basketball player, opens his house, free of charge, every day except Sunday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The festively decorated house includes a Christmas bazaar, with drinks and toys. 

haifa
The Haifa Festival of Festivals celebrates the three monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The festivities take place in the Arab quarter of Wadi Nisnas and extend to the German Colony, at the foot of the Baha'i Gardens. 
Activities during this festival, held over three weekends in December, include an Antique Fair, special authentic food prepared by Wadi Nisnas residents, music by artists of all ethnicities and performances, craft fair, guided tours , dance, etc
Concerts of Christian liturgical music combined with music reflecting Arab and Israeli heritage are held in Haifa's churches and halls. 

Nazareth
Nazareth, the childhood home of Jesus, is decked out in Christmas cheer, festivities and lights. The annual Christmas market will run for two full months this year (November 15 to January 15), with stalls, food and drink, and illuminations alongside a huge illuminated Christmas tree near the Pozo de María. 
The city also hosts a colorful Christmas parade on Christmas Eve, complete with fireworks and the participation of local youth groups. A second Christmas parade, also with fireworks, will take place on January 6 for the city's Orthodox community. The many churches and halls will host many concerts, and the annual liturgical festival will offer six concerts in three churches with more than one hundred international musicians. 

Some figures of interest
Approximately half of the tourists who come to the country are Christians. It is estimated that between January and November 2022, 1.2 million Christian tourists arrived in Israel. 20% of all tourists define themselves as pilgrims (480,000 pilgrims between January and November 2022).
The number of pilgrims visiting Israel during the Christmas period is expected to increase from 20% to 40%, with some 120,000 pilgrims visiting during Christmas week. In the record year of 2019, some 150,000 pilgrims visited Israel during the Christmas period, and 135,000 in 2018.